Former deputy inspector general of police (DIG) (Prisons) D. Roopa has named another person in connection with the jail perk row involving jailed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala.

Former deputy inspector general of police (DIG) (Prisons) D. Roopa has named another person in connection with the jail perk row involving jailed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala. The report submitted by Roopa to the IGP, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Bangalore, has mentioned V.S. Prakash, popularly known as Australia Prakash in Bengaluru, who is stated to have arranged meetings between “one Mallikarjun and Sasikala at Bengaluru Jail because he knows jail officials.” “It is a matter of record that Sasikala met her visitors in a special room, again a special treatment, which did not have CCTV and could meet them for hours. Therefore, Mr. V.S. Prakash is seen to be a conduit for meetings, which led to special treatment to Smt Sasikala,” Roopa said.

She further said that there is an anonymous petition stating that V.S. Prakash would go inside the jail a number of times, sometimes on record and many other times without any formal entry or record in visitor-register. “He would be assisted by one police sub-inspector of KSISF Gajaraj Makanur guarding the jail in entering the jail without making entry of his name in the register. This can be checked with CCTV images kept at gate 1 and inside gate 2 and CCTV camera no 8. There is a reliable source of information that the jail Chief Supt Krishna Kumar brokered the deal on behalf of DG Prisons Sathyanarayan Rao IPS and obtained Rs. 2 crore from Mallikarjun and TTV Dinakaran,” the report added. Roopa further said that this must be “investigated thoroughly” and said that it is clear that special treatment to the convict Sasikala was a quid-pro-quo in consideration for the pecuniary gains. “If investigated, it is an offence made out under sections 7, 13(1)(d), 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against DG Prisons Shri Sathyanarayan Rao IPS. The middleman V.S. Prakash is liable under Section 8 and 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This needs formal investigation,” she wrote.

Roopa added that a statement has been issued under section 161 CrPC before Delhi Police in connection with the election symbol bribery case pertaining to AIADMK party. Complaining about another convict, D. Roopa said that in a similar way, a cot and bed, water-disperser, curtains, LED-TV are also provided to Karimlal Telgi, the convict in fake stamp paper racket. “This is again special treatment. Apart from this, he has 3 attendants at a time who are under-trail prisoners, in violation of guideline that under-trial prisoners should not be mixed with convicts,” she wrote. Yesterday, a video footage was submitted to the ACB allegedly by Roopa showing Sasikala and her relative Ilavarasi, convicted by the Supreme Court in the disproportionate assets case, walking into the main entry area of the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in civilian attire. Roopa submitted the footage yesterday as part of her statement to the ACB of the Karnataka Police.

Following the summons by the ACB, Roopa had submitted 74 enclosures as evidence to substantiate her charges. She received summons on July 31, the day Director General (Prisons) G. Sathyanarayan Rao retired. Earlier last month, Roopa grabbed headlines when she, in a report, said that Sasikala availed VIP treatment in the prison by bribing jail officials. Roopa, in a report to the Director General (Prisons), had said there are speculations that Sasikala paid bribe to prison officials to get special facilities for herself with rumours also of the DG being a beneficiary himself. The report by the DIG (Prisons) had asserted that a bribe worth Rs. 2 crore was given to the prison officials by AIADMK chief VK Sasikala for, including the DG (Prisons), in order to avail special facilities in the Parappana Agrahara central prison. The DG (Prisons) categorically denied all the charges, where Roopa, maintained her stand, saying that she has no issue with an inquiry taking place into it.

A notice was then sent to Roopa accusing her of “damaging the integrity and reputation of Sathyanarayan Rao,” which according to law comes under defamation. The notice also said that Rao will also be approaching the concerned Income Tax Department to find out the source from where the “alleged Rs. 2 crore were mobilised.” The notice further said that Roopa also alleged that Sasikala had set up a private kitchen, where special food could be made for her, but as she failed to take snaps of the place, it only shows that the place was “non-existent” although she (Roopa) claims that the evidence was erased. The notice said that Roopa had tried to defame the “whole system” of this country, including the President of the nation. Subsequently, Roopa was transferred to the Traffic and Safety wing.